[Aztlan] lak'

[D. M. Urquidi]

Nick et al:
 Láak-al also means: At Least; not less than.
D. M. Urquidi

P. O. Box 49485

Austin, Texas 78765

http://www.mayalords.org

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ancientamericas/

--- On Sat, 7/11/09, Nick Hopkins <nickhopkins at live.com> wrote:

From: Nick Hopkins <nickhopkins at live.com>
Subject: Re: [Aztlan] lak'
To: randa at armory.com, "Aztlan" <aztlan at lists.famsi.org>
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2009, 1:39 PM


Randa is right to question my restricted gloss of lak' as (only) "companion." Let me defend (and then abandon) that position.  Again with reference to the Cordemex (Barrera V. et al. 1980:436), there are two entries for lak'.  The first set gives "companion" as the first definition in sources from the late 16th to the 18th centuries, with a lot of sample phrases referring to spouses, concubines, brothers, and neighbors.  In 20th century entries, the terms "friend" and "colleague" are added to the meanings.  The second entry for lak' defines it as "otro, el otro de los dos, el otro que falta (other, the other of two, the other one that is lacking)."  Again, this usage is cited for sources from the 16th-18th centuries, but there is only one sample usage.  So, I would say that the primary meaning of lak' is "companion" (in its various senses), and "other" is secondary.  That said, one of the facts of life is that "words mean what they are used to
 mean."  If speakers of the lang!
 uage choose to emphasize the secondary meaning, it becomes the primary meaning.  So I am perfectly happy to accept that this expression can be taken in its most romantic sense, in lak'ech,  "you are my other, the other of two, the one that is lacking (for completion)."
Thanks, Randa, for keeping us honest, as usual.Nick

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